Cement companies face closure’s threat

SHILLONG, MAY 7: Meghalaya government has warned the cement companies located in Jaintia hills districts that it will close down their plants if it is found that the companies are violating the environmental laws.

Meghalaya forest & environment minister Prestone Tyngsong directed the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) on Wednesday to conduct a “spot-inspection” in all the cement factories and find out whether the companies are responsible for environmental degradation in East Jaintia Hills District. He said if found violating the environmental laws the companies will face immediate closures.

“I have directed the chairman of the MSPCB to undertake a spot inspection to all the cement factories operating in Narpuh Elaka of the district,” Tynsong.

The minister’s order came after the Khasi Students’ Union – Narpuh Circle (KSU-NC) submitted a petition to him seeking his intervention for the alleged violation of environmental norms by five cement companies impacting environmental in the region.

Tynsong warned, “If found to be true that the companies have violated the prescribed norms, the guilty companies will be asked to immediately “close-down their operation.”

Tynsong asserted that  the cement factories have to comply to the prescribed norms like installation of mechanism and adopting certain parameters to check and control the pollution emanated from their set-up which can affect the environment.

“I have also asked the MSPCB to submit its reports on the matter by  May 31,” Tynsong informed.

Earlier, Meghalaya government had decided to transfer the administrative control of the MSPCB from the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department to the Forest and Environment department.

Stating that the government is very much concerned on the issue of environmental degradation , Tynsong  said, “That is why the government decided to transfer the administrative control of the Board to the department,” adding “In this way, the department can get the first hand information on any issues related to environment.”

Stating that MSPCB role is to monitor the impact of industries on environment on a regular-basis in term of air and water pollution, Tynsong assured, “Henceforth, I’ll make sure that the Board perform as per the prescribed norms and spot inspection is required to ensure that corrective measures are adhered to.”

Earlier, a delegation of the KSU-NC led by its president Syrosse Lamare expressed grave concerned over the haphazard operation by the cement factories leading to gradually environmental degradation which is affecting the people and the region.

The five cement plants named in the petition includes – Star Cement, Topcem, Dalmia, JUD and CMCL.

“The wastes (such as fly ash) released directly to the rivers by these cement companies has polluted the water system and water sources of the region,” Lamare told reporters while alleging that the cement companies are responsible for the pollution of major rivers in the region – such as the Lukha River.

“The river, which once was a blessing for the region now has become unfit for human consumption or even for domestic purposes,” he informed.  He said if corrective measures are not taken, time is not far when people will consume poisonous water.

Lamare also said that the smoke emanating from these factories is another factor affecting the health of the people of the area.”

Informing that the government has assured action on the matter, Lamare however warned that the union will take stern action if the government fails to comply with the demand put forth by the union.- By Our Reporter